Pasteur Institute of Iran

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Various adjuvants in combination with different antigens have been utilized as a vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis. However, the search for ideal adjuvants is still pursued due to the inefficiencies of current compounds. In the present study, the effect of imiquimod, as an adjuvant, is studied with soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA) in BALB/c mice. Four groups of mice were immunized with SLA, SLA plus imiquimod, SLA plus BCG, and PBS as control. Immunized mice received a boosting dose of SLA after 15 days. All groups were challenged with Leishmania major (L. major) promastigotes 2 weeks after the booster immunization. Our results showed that strong TH1 responses were induced in groups of SLA plus imiquimod as well as SLA plus BCGafter immunization. These responses included smaller footpad thickness, lower parasite load in lymph node, and higher proliferative response of lymph node cells to SLA, higher levels of interferon &gamma in culture supernatant of lymph node cells, and higher levels of IgG, and IgG2a in sera. The data supports the possibility of using imiquimod as a suitable adjuvant in leishmania vaccination.

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  Introduction : Rabies is a disease that has been known since antiquity. It is a highly fatal acute disease of the central nervous system caused by a lyssavirus. Prior to the discovery of the rabies vaccine, rabies-infected individuals fell victim to the delusions and superstitions associated with this disease. Though it has been neglected in many regions of the world, rabies remains one of the most feared diseases in many developing countries, where it takes the majority of its victims. The virus circulates mainly in domestic and wild carnivores, taking 60,000 human lives worldwide every year and inflicting significant financial damage. It can, however, be well controlled due to the availability of effective Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) protocols. Pasteur Institute of Iran has had a significant role in the establishment of current PEP protocols in the world. In spite of the availability of effective PEP protocols, preventive vaccination would be preferable in endemic regions. Annually, a considerable number of exposures to animal bites occur in Iran. The current situation in the country is well-controlled by virtue of a robust surveillance system and efficient PEP treatments, resulting in considerably low death incidences from rabies. High quality vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) are expensive and unaffordable in developing countries, where the need for rabies vaccination is greatest. Therefore, there is an increasing need to develop new cost-effective and efficient vaccines requiring fewer injections and providing longer-lasting immunity. J Med Microbiol Infec Dis, 2014, 1 (2): 10 pages.

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Introduction: In Iran, 95% of animal bites are attributed to domestic dogs and cats, while one-third of rabies victims are from wildlife. The wolf is one of the primary vectors of wildlife in the country. This study was aimed to assess the impact of wildlife on rabies transmission and to evaluate the efficacy of an oral rabies vaccine (ORV) in the gray wolf (Canis lupus pallipes). Methods: We studied the incidence of wolf attacks by analyzing a 10-year period of data (2000 to 2009) available in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Veterinary Organization and Pasteur Institute of Iran. In the next step, five captive gray wolves were fed by Raboral V-RG^® vaccine baits (Merial^®, part of Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany) and monitored for rabies neutralizing antibodies over 20 months by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). Results: Our analysis showed that 55% of animal bites occurred in rural areas and the remaining in urban areas. The most rabid wolves were from Fars province in southern Iran. The vaccine baits were palatable for the hungry wolves. Seroconversion with antibodies titers ≥0.5 IU/ml occurred after 12 weeks and maintained for 78 weeks indicating potential protection against rabies after receiving a single ORV bait. Conclusion: Our results suggested that a single dose of vaccination with V-RG^®, though initially designed for foxes and raccoons, can protect the gray wolf against rabies as well.

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Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease. The causative agent is a negative-sense RNA genome virus of the genus Lyssavirus (Family: Rhabdoviridae). The disease, commonly transmitted by rabid dogs, is the cause of mortality of over 59000 humans worldwide annually. This disease can be prevented before the development of symptoms through proper vaccination even after exposure. Hence, improvement of the vaccination schedule in the countries where rabies is endemic is essential. In addition to the type of vaccine, injection routes also contribute to enhanced immune responses and increased potency of the vaccines. The vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) include cell culture and embryonated egg-based rabies vaccines (CCEEVs). In order to develop a vaccine against rabies, it is necessary to use an appropriate delivery system to promote a proper antigen-specific immune response. Different routes of injection such as intradermal (ID), intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) are practiced, with controversies over their suitability. In this article, we discuss the immunological aspects of rabies vaccination by comparing ID and IM delivery systems.

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Introduction: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of rubella IgG antibodies among women of reproductive age in Mysuru, India. Estimating the rubella seroprevalence in this populationis crucial for informing public health interventions aimed at preventing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), a severe birth defect caused by rubella infection during pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted among women of reproductive age (18–38 years) in Mysuru city from January 15, 2019, to December 31, 2019. A total of 311 participants were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Rubella IgG antibody levels were measured using ELISA with the CALBIOTECH Rubella IgG ELISA kit. Results: The mean age of the 311 women of reproductive age included in the study was 25.8 ± 5.2 years. Age was not significantly associated with rubella IgG antibody status (P=0.123). Overall, 95.5% (n = 297) of participants were seropositive for rubella IgG antibodies, indicating immunity against rubella. The lowest seroprevalence (92.1%, n = 51) was observed in the 21–25 years age group. Although not statistically significant (P=0.872), a slightly higher proportion of urban residents (95.68%, n = 267) were seropositive compared to rural residents. Furthermore, participants with a history of normal pregnancy (98.59%, n = 166) and those who reported being vaccinated (100%) had a significantly higher seroprevalence of rubella IgG antibodies. Conclusion: This study found a high seroprevalence of rubella IgG antibodies (95.5%) among women of reproductive age in Mysuru, indicating a potentially low risk of rubella infection and a high level of population immunity. This high seroprevalence is likely attributable to the successful implementation of the national Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign in India, as evidenced by the high seroprevalence observed self-reported vaccinated participants. Further research is warranted to investigate the duration of rubella immunity conferred by vaccination and to assess the need for booster doses in this population.